Google has just launched Google Public Alerts, a Google Maps based website to bring you information about relevant emergency alerts in your area.

The map shows weather alerts, public safety warnings, and earthquake alerts from US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Weather Service, and the US Geological Survey (USGS). For example, the map is showing right now flash flood and severe thunderstorm warnings at various locations in Texas and high wind warnings for South-western California.

There is some integration with the main Google Maps site as well, although you do have to search for the alerts. For example, at the time of writing, if you search for ‘flash flood Texas’ in Google Maps an alert appears in the Google Maps sidebar. You can then click on the alert to get further details.

I actually think Public Alerts deserves more prominence on Google Maps. I’d like to see it made available as a layer (it could sit very nicely just under the Weather layer option in the Google Maps drop-down menu).